Chaperon
New Trail Brewing Company

 

 

Undated (WTF) an into pint glass. Pours a slightly hazy gold with a coarse off white head. Initial impression is grapefruit rind, pine resin, and just a hint of caramel. Mouthfeel is clean and dry. Finish is slightly astringent. Overall, not bad but not up to New Trail's standards. This is why I avoid collabs if possible.

A finger’s worth of slightly late to develop bone white head which displays decent retention…. Color is a moderately hazed pale copper…. Nose has a robust hop presence with a touch of pine but the citrus steals the show…. Flavor profile is nothing like the nose…. Dank and a bit earthy - no pine or citrus to speak of…. On the lighter side of medium bodied and slightly dense…. Decent beer, but nothing to noteworthy….

Two twelve ounce cans have been emptied into a clear glass liter mug for review. There will be a third, regardless of the acclaim or lack there of. At first, a major warning sign. It's a big white starchy head which recedes unevenly. Experience tells the tale of too many a brew ruined by putting more wheat into an IPA than traditionally belongs. Yep, the head looks more like an ice cream float than a beer and that's usually tough to overcome. As for what lies underneath, truly more important, there is a semi-translucent light amber liquid displaying much carbonation. That probably contributes to the enduring nature of the head. The aroma is hoppy, mainly sharp and dry. As suspected, there's too much wheat in the wort for this to have a good body. The sufficient glass lacing is a lie, as it often is with an overly wheated brew. The hopping is well done, with a run of bitterness, almost all of it dry. If you like a dryly hopped AIPA without much body and no complimentary malt contrasts, you'll appreciate this. Most traditional IPA lovers will not.

 

Poured into a narrow pint glass: color is straw gold, not transparent but not hazy, head is brighter white with fine to small bubbles and presents 1+ fingers thick, dissipates to a solid top with nice lacing.

Smell is eucalyptus, light berry, lime, some herbal and floral softness, hint of citrus, very little pine; malt is slightly backing in sweetness.

Taste is more mixed notes of berry, lime, herbal, eucalyptus, some floral notes, seems more bitter than aroma and bitterness is emphasized with warmth; malt is clean, light, softened flavor by the wheat additions.

Mouthfeel is low carbonation, moderate sweetness, bitterness with warmth, lingering bitter bite on the tongue.

Overall a more bitter IPA than most from NT - wheat is softening at first but gives way to the hopping. Eucalyptus flavor seems prominent from the comet and ekuanot additions - interesting flavor that lies between floral-pine-pineapple range.

Mouthfeel is

12 oz can, no date but part of the Expedition Pack #4

Fairly clear dark yellow in color, rocky white head . Bright citrus aroma. Similar flavor up front, long bitter finish that is more like zest, reminiscent of mild key lime. Medium bodied.

This is certainly citrus forward, I'm getting plenty of tangy grapefruit and bitter orange rind. There is also a long, lingering piney bitterness at the finish. Refreshingly biting.